European Society of Gynaecological Oncology quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer

Background: optimizing and ensuring the quality of surgical care is essential to improve the management and outcome of patients with cervical cancer.To develop a list of quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer that can be used to audit and improve clinical practice. Methods: quality indicators were developed using a four-step evaluation process that included a systematic literature search to identify potential quality indicators, in-person meetings of an ad hoc group of international experts, an internal validation process, and external review by a large panel of European clinicians and patient representatives. Results: fifteen structural, process, and outcome indicators were selected. Using a structured format, each quality indicator has a description specifying what the indicator is measuring. Measurability specifications are also detailed to define how the indicator will be measured in practice. Each indicator has a target which gives practitioners and health administrators a quantitative basis for improving care and organizational processes. Discussion: implementation of institutional quality assurance programs can improve quality of care, even in high-volume centers. This set of quality indicators from the European Society of Gynaecological Cancer may be a major instrument to improve the quality of surgical treatment of cervical cancer

Subspecialty training in Europe:a report by the European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists

Backgroun

The ESSO core curriculum committee update on surgical oncology

Introduction Surgical oncology is a defined specialty within the European Board of Surgery within the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Variation in training and specialization still occurs across Europe. There is a need to align the core knowledge needed to fulfil the criteria across subspecialities in surgical oncology. Material and methods The core curriculum, established in 2013, was developed with contributions from expert advisors from within the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO), European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and related subspeciality experts. Results The current version reiterates and updates the core curriculum structure needed for current and future candidates who plans to train for and eventually sit the European fellowship exam for the European Board of Surgery in Surgical Oncology. The content included is not intended to be exhaustive but, rather to give the candidate an idea of expectations and areas for in depth study, in addition to the practical requirements. The five elements included are: Basic principles of oncology; Disease site specific oncology; Generic clinical skills; Training recommendations, and, lastly; Eligibility for the EBSQ exam in Surgical Oncology. Conclusions As evidence-based care for cancer patients evolves through research into basic science, translational research and clinical trials, the core curriculum will evolve, mature and adapt to deliver continual improvements in cancer outcomes for patients

Sentinel lymph nodes in endometrial carcinoma: Mapping, diagnostic accuracy and oncologic outcome

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the most common cancer of the female genital tract in industrialized countries. It is well accepted that surgical staging of EC should include removing the uterus, tubes and ovaries, but the role and extent of lymph node dissection is highly debated. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has emerged as a reasonable approach compared to lymphadenectomy (LND). Although the SLN technique and algorithm have evolved over the past few decades, there remain unanswered questions regarding the role of SLN biopsy in the management of EC. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate the introduction of indocyanine green (ICG) as a novel dye in the detection of SLNs. To evaluate detection of metastatic nodes and oncologic outcome, comparing an SLN approach to lymphadenectomy, and to investigate treatment patterns and oncologic outcome of patients with low-volume metastasis. The investigations were based on retrospective data from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center institutional SLN database in addition to a historic LND cohort from the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota. We found that ICG was superior to blue dye in detection of SLNs. Importantly, ICG was superior to blue dye in obese patients. We also found that the detection of nodal metastasis is not compromised by applying an SLN algorithm, compared to a lymphadenectomy, with similar oncologic outcomes. EC patients with low-volume metastasis had similar oncologic outcomes as node-negative patients, and improved oncologic outcomes compared to patients with nodal macrometastasis. We cannot yet determine whether improved outcomes for patients with low-volume metastasis is due to receiving adjuvant therapy or to the fact that this group may have a more benign course inherently. Overall, the SLN algorithm is accurate in detection of nodal metastasis in women with early-stage EC, and does not appear to compromise oncologic outcomes within this short follow-up

Update on sentinel lymph node biopsy in surgical staging of endometrial carcinoma

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has emerged as an alternative staging approach in women with assumed early-stage endometrial carcinoma. Through image-guided surgery and pathologic ultrastaging, the SLN approach is introducing “precision medicine” to the surgical management of gynecologic cancers, providing a comprehensive evaluation of high-yield lymph nodes. This approach improves the surgeons’ ability to detect small-volume metastatic disease while reducing intraoperative and postoperative morbidity associated with lymphadenectomy. Although the majority of clinicians in Europe and the USA have recognized the value of SLN biopsy in endometrial carcinoma and introduced this as part of clinical practice, there is ongoing debate regarding its role in very low-risk patients as well as in patients at high risk of nodal metastasis. The significance of low-volume metastasis is not fully understood, and there is no consensus in regard to how the presence of isolated tumor cells should guide adjuvant therapy. Standardized protocols for histopathologic evaluation of SLNs are lacking. In this review article we aim to provide a framework for the introduction of SLN biopsy in endometrial cancer, give an updated overview of the existing literature, as well as discuss potential controversies and unanswered questions regarding this approach and future directions

Primary uterine ectomesenchymoma harboring a DICER1 mutation: case report with molecular analysis

Abstract Ectomesenchymoma is an exceedingly rare biphasic malignant tumor characterized by the presence of mesenchymal and neuroectodermal elements. The majority of patients are infants or children. We describe the first case of this entity diagnosed as a primary uterine tumor. A 72-year-old female presented with post-menopausal bleeding. Dilatation and curettage showed irregular mesenchymal proliferation of uncertain nature. In the hysterectomy specimen, a myxoid spindle cell tumor with areas of skeletal muscle and neural differentiation was found in the uterus, with direct invasion of the small intestine, and biphasic differentiation into rhabdomyosarcoma and ganglioneuroblastoma was unequivocally seen in a lymph node metastasis. The morphological findings were validated by immunohistochemistry. Massive parallel sequencing identified TP53 , PTEN , and DICER1 mutations in the tumor. This report describes the presence of ectomesenchymoma in an unusual primary organ and in an uncharacteristic age and presents novel data regarding the genetic characteristics of this tumor

The microRNA miR-192/215 family is upregulated in mucinous ovarian carcinomas

Different microRNAs are dysregulated in ovarian cancer where some of them have proved to be valid biomarkers. miRNA profiling analyses have shown that the different histotypes of ovarian carcinoma display differential expression of specific miRNAs. In the present study, we used miRNA-sequencing and Real-Time qPCR to detect the expression levels of miRNAs belonging to the miRNA-192/215 family, namely miR-192, miR-194, and miR-215, in different types of ovarian neoplasia, finding that miR-192, miR-194, and miR-215 were upregulated in ovarian carcinomas of the mucinous subtype, but downregulated in other types of carcinoma and in sex cord-stromal tumors. The expression of the said miRNAs was 6-fold higher in mucinous tumors compared to the other histotypes making them candidates for a possible role as diagnostic biomarkers

Robot-assisted approach to cervical cancer (RACC) : An international multi-center, open-label randomized controlled trial

Background Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy represents the standard treatment for early-stage cervical cancer. Results from a recent randomized controlled trial demonstrate that minimally invasive surgery is inferior to laparotomy with regards to disease-free and overall survival. Primary Objective To investigate the oncologic safety of robot-assisted surgery for early-stage cervical cancer as compared with standard laparotomy. Study Hypothesis Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is non-inferior to laparotomy in regards to recurrence-free survival with the advantage of fewer post-operative complications and superior patient-reported outcomes. Trial Design Prospective, multi-institutional, international, open-label randomized clinical trial. Consecutive women with early-stage cervical cancer will be assessed for eligibility and subsequently randomized 1:1 to either robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy. Institutional review board approval will be required from all participating institutions. The trial is coordinated from Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. Major Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Women over 18 with cervical cancer FIGO (2018) stages IB1, IB2, and IIA1 squamous, adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous will be included. Women are not eligible if they have evidence of metastatic disease, serious co-morbidity, or a secondary invasive neoplasm in the past 5 years. Primary Endpoint Recurrence-free survival at 5 years between women who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery versus laparotomy for early-stage cervical cancer. Sample Size The clinical non-inferiority margin in this study is defined as a 5-year recurrence-free survival not worsened by >7.5%. With an expected recurrence-free survival of 85%, the study needs to observe 127 events with a one-sided level of significance (α) of 5% and a power (1-β) of 80%. With 5 years of recruitment and 3 years of follow-up, the necessary number of events will be reached if the study can recruit a total of 768 patients. Estimated Dates for Completing Accrual and Presenting Results Trial launch is estimated to be May 2019 and the trial is estimated to close in May 2027 with presentation of data shortly thereafter. Trial Registration The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03719547)

European Society of Gynaecological Oncology quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer

BACKGROUND: Optimizing and ensuring the quality of surgical care is essential to improve the management and outcome of patients with cervical cancer.To develop a list of quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer that can be used to audit and improve clinical practice. METHODS: Quality indicators were developed using a four-step evaluation process that included a systematic literature search to identify potential quality indicators, in-person meetings of an ad hoc group of international experts, an internal validation process, and external review by a large panel of European clinicians and patient representatives. RESULTS: Fifteen structural, process, and outcome indicators were selected. Using a structured format, each quality indicator has a description specifying what the indicator is measuring. Measurability specifications are also detailed to define how the indicator will be measured in practice. Each indicator has a target which gives practitioners and health administrators a quantitative basis for improving care and organizational processes. DISCUSSION: Implementation of institutional quality assurance programs can improve quality of care, even in high-volume centers. This set of quality indicators from the European Society of Gynaecological Cancer may be a major instrument to improve the quality of surgical treatment of cervical cancer.status: publishe